GARY MAN FACES UP TO 18 1/2 YEARS FOR KILLING SON
A Gary man faces up to 18 ½ years in a plea deal for killing his son during a gas station robbery in August 2024 and later assaulting another inmate in jail.
Gregory Turner, 38, pleaded guilty March 3 to reckless homicide and aggravated battery. He also admitted to battery resulting in moderate bodily injury in the assault case.
If a judge accepts the deal, his sentencing is April 2.
Around 12:05 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2024, Gary Police responded to the Citgo gas station at 901 E. 5th Avenue for a report of a homicide, according to the probable cause affidavit. The deceased was identified at the scene as 17-year-old Jody Stallworth, Turner’s son, who sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the neck. Coroner’s investigators also recovered another bullet in his body from a previous gunshot wound on Feb. 4, court records state.
Video footage from the Citgo showed Stallworth and Turner parked at a gas pump in a white SUV. Stallworth exited the passenger side with a ski mask on and an AR pistol in his left hand, court records state. He approached a third man with the intent to rob him. Turner was nearby with an object visible in his waistband, records state. The man punched Stallworth and fought with him over the gun, which appeared to discharge at points. Turner then drew his gun and fired several shots at the man who was fighting with Stallworth, the affidavit states. Turner put his hand over his face in an attempt to shield himself from surveillance cameras right before Stallworth was shot by Turner. The robbery victim fled on foot while Turner dragged Stallworth into the white SUV and drove off, court records state.
Police interviewed the man Stallworth fought with at the gas station. The man said he was waiting for a food pickup nearby when he heard someone call his name and saw a man in a mask with a gun, records state. The man in the mask said, “What you on? … what’s in those pockets,” with what he assumed was the intent to rob him. The man struck Stallworth and started fighting with him, gaining control of the gun, tried to return fire and fled the scene, the affidavit states.
The man said he was shot in the upper left side of his chest and in the jaw. The man’s jaw appeared to be broken and he had to put a suction tube in his mouth every few sections to remove blood from his mouth as a result of the wound, court records state.
In the other case, Turner admitted punching an inmate multiple times at the Lake County Jail in February 2025.
THAYER MAN HEADED BACK TO PRISON IN SONS’ DROWNING DEATHS
A Thayer man is headed back to prison for his sons’ 2018 Kankakee River drowning deaths after violating his probation.
Eric Patillo, 41, admitted he led police on a brief chase in Jasper County in May 2024.
In the boys’ deaths, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in June 2021 after admitting he was on heroin when he picked up his two sons, Levi, 4, and Evan, 2, to fish at the Kankakee River on Aug. 21, 2018, after dropping their mother off at work.
Patillo was seen nodding off at the riverbank with the boys.
Defense lawyer Amishi Sanghvi said Thursday Patillo has about 8 years left to serve. Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan gave him the option to apply for Lake County Community Transition Court for the last two years of his sentence.
“It was a tragic thing,” she said. “Addiction is non-discriminatory.”
After their deaths, relatives told the Post-Tribune they suspected Levi was trying to protect his little brother, who loved water.
Judge Samuel Cappas gave Patillo the option to petition to modify his 16-year prison sentence after finishing a nine-month drug rehab program. He took it, successfully leaving prison in 2022 for probation.
However, in May 2024, he was charged in Jasper County with fleeing during a traffic stop. He signed a plea deal and has since served the latter sentence.
HAMMOND MAN FACES UP TO 2.5 YEARS AFTER DAUGHTER SHOT HERSELF
A Hammond man faces up to 2.5 years after his 3-year-old daughter found a loaded gun and shot herself in the heel.
Kendall Wilson, 26, pleaded guilty Feb. 27 to neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony.
If a judge accepts the plea deal, his sentencing is April 17.
Hammond Police responded Feb. 11, 2025, just before noon, to the 1100 block of Logan Street.
Wilson had his arms wrapped around the girl, waiting for paramedics.
The girl’s mother said she was on the phone with a relative when she stopped watching the toddler for “a few seconds,” assuming she went into the living room. The girl must have been crouched down and gotten the gun.
She heard a “loud pop” she knew was a gunshot. The child was bleeding from her foot. A 6-month-old sibling was also in the house.
Cops found another gun in a headrest behind their sofa, the affidavit said.
Post-Tribune archives contributed; mcolias@post-trib.com
